{"id":4357,"date":"2021-02-28T06:27:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T13:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bornfitness.com\/?p=4357"},"modified":"2022-02-17T12:27:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T19:27:10","slug":"squat-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bornfitness.com\/squat-form\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mystery of Squat Form: How Low Should You Go, Really? \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Talking about squats is a lot like talking about politics: Everyone has an opinion on what works and what doesn\u2019t\u2014and, chances are, they\u2019re passionate about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, it doesn’t take long to realize that the squatting commandments you’ve been hearing for years are very flawed. Case in point: ever been told that your “knees shouldn’t go over your toes” during the squat? Somehow, this idea has lived for decades despite the fact that it’s not true.<\/p>\n

Automatically assuming that your knees shouldn’t go over your toes is a great way to ensure that you put a lot of stress on other structures, such as your lower back (as a result of hips), hamstrings, or even your calves. If you’ve tried this approach, you might find that squatting suddenly feels very uncomfortable (note: uncomfortable is different from difficult). And, that’s never a good thing and likely a sign that the movement you’re forcing isn’t going to make your body feel good.<\/p>\n

Research supports why allowing your knees to go over your toes isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In one study<\/a>, participants were restricted from moving their knees in front of their toes. The results? It led to a slight reduction in knee torque (22%) but at the cost of a massive increase in hip torque (1070%).<\/p>\n

This suggests that if you apply a movement standard for everyone, it’s likely to cause stress in unintended ways, and this massive increase in stress is likely to lead to injuries, aches, and pains.<\/p>\n

It’s perfectly fine for your knees to go over your toes as long as your heels are planted on the ground and your weight is balanced over your natural center of gravity.<\/p>\n

The only squat stance that is “right” is the one that is suited for your body. That means it’s time to unlearn what you’ve been taught and start figuring out a better way to squat for your body. Once you do, everything feels better, hurts less, and you’ll become stronger.<\/p>\n

Is Squatting Good For You?<\/h2>\n

“Is it good to squat?”<\/em> is a fair question, but one with an easy answer. Yes.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Sitting down and standing up is one of the most basic movements in life. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether squatting is good is not a debate, but form and depth are topics of intense disagreement. The biggest thing you need to remember is that everyone is going to squat a little differently. Y<\/span>our squat form might not look like the ones you see in the pictures or those little \u201c<\/span>squat form demonstration”<\/span><\/a>\u00a0illustrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your knee attaches to 3 main muscle groups: your hamstrings and calves in the back the quadriceps in front. These muscles also play a key role in your hip movement. Translation: When your muscles contract, they work together to balance out force and keep your knees (and other structures) healthy.<\/p>\n

\"knee<\/p>\n

Remember the study we mentioned above and how it increased hip torque by more than 1,000 percent? Trying to follow those how-tos might be why your squat form doesn’t feel quite right\u2014or perhaps why squats feel painful. Following a movement built for someone else’s body type isn’t a good idea. <\/span><\/p>\n

This, of course, is the reason why squats hurt so many people, get a bad reputation, and why you are often tempted to skip this move in your workout, even though you <\/span>should<\/span><\/i> do it. <\/span><\/p>\n

No one is going to give you an extra million dollars for squatting deeper.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Making matters worse, the more that you read about squat form, the more likely you are to find conflicting information. <\/span>On one side you have the purists. They’ll tell you that you <\/span>must<\/span><\/i> squat \u201cass-to-grass.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

At the opposite end of the spectrum, are the overly cautious types who worry that squatting too low will damage your knees (<\/span>it won\u2019t, by the way<\/span><\/a>). And there are plenty of others who will advocate for stopping at seemingly every other point in between\u2014thighs parallel to the ground, or just below it, or well above it (known as <\/span>quarter squats<\/span>), and on and on. <\/span><\/p>\n

No one is “right” but everyone is wrong unless they are showing you how to figure out the right squat depth and stance for your body.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no one right way to squat\u2014and there\u2019s no one wrong way, either,\u201d says <\/span>Dean Somerset<\/span><\/a>, C.S.C.S., an exercise physiologist in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. \u201cIt\u2019s all about finding what works for your body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s right for you depends on your goals, strength, and level of mobility, which are things you can influence. But, not everything that determines how well you squat is within your control. <\/span><\/p>\n

Your body\u2019s bone structure will affect how you move too. Because of all that, many of the standard squat cues you hear about where your feet should be or what direction they should point may not actually work for you. (But don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll show you what will.) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line: Forget the politics. Forget all the \u201cone-size-fits-all\u201d opinions. There are a lot of <\/span>ways you can go about fixing squats when they hurt<\/span><\/a>. We’re going to break down the different types of squat depth and share a test that can help you start to personalize your approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know the right range of motion for your body, so you can get the most out of the squat.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Deep Squat<\/h2>\n

Being able to execute a full deep squat is a good thing, but it might not be your thing. Doing the move requires a full range of motion at all four of the body\u2019s major load-bearing joints (the ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders) and proper mobility throughout the spine. Those joints, your muscles, and your brain all have to work together to achieve this position:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"proper<\/p>\n

That demonstration comes from <\/span>Georges Dagher<\/span><\/a>, C.S.C.S, a chiropractor and strength coach based in Toronto. He likens the deep squat to brushing your teeth. \u201cFrom my perspective, the deep squat movement is a toothbrush for our joints, ensuring they are all moving without any sticky or restricted areas,\u201d Dagher writes in the <\/span>Journal of Evolution and Health<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Just as you brush your teeth every day, Dagher suggests performing at least one bodyweight squat per day, as deep as you can. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you look at the photo above and think \u201cno way,\u201d don\u2019t stress. Lots of people have strength or mobility issues that can make achieving a deep squat challenging\u2014at least at first. <\/span><\/p>\n

The good news? By simply working on your deep bodyweight squat form, going as deep as you can with control, and holding as long as you feel reasonably comfortable, you\u2019ll help address and improve those issues. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe positions we place our bodies in will have an effect on various elements such as muscles, which can improve our comfort in the squat,\u201d Dagher says.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also get more comfortable by adjusting your stance. Somerset explains that the standard squatting position\u2014 \u201c<\/span>stand with your feet shoulder-width apart<\/span><\/i>…\u201d \u2014doesn\u2019t apply to everyone. It\u2019s more of a general recommendation or an average, he says, not a hard-and-fast rule. <\/span><\/p>\n

To help his clients reach a deeper, pain-free squat, Somerset has them experiment with different stances until they find one that feels right. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink of it like going to the optometrist, when they put the lens in front of your eyes and ask which one is better,\u201d Somerset says. \u201cThere\u2019s no one standard prescription. It\u2019s about finding the right one for you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the two main elements Somerset asks clients to adjust when they dial in their stances for ideal squat form: <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The direction of your toes<\/b>: Try them pointing straight ahead first. Let\u2019s call that 12 o\u2019clock. Squat as deep as you can. Now turn your feet outward slightly – think left foot pointing at 11 o\u2019clock, right foot pointing at 1. Try the deep squat again. Now angle them even farther outward, to 10 and 2. Squat again. Notice which position feels the most natural and allows you to sink the deepest. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • The width of your feet<\/b>: Start with them set shoulder-width apart. Then, gradually try wider distances, giving each the bodyweight squat test and noticing which feels the most natural. One thing to note: The wider your stance is, the more the exercise will emphasize your glutes (the muscles in your butt), and the less work it\u2019ll put on the quads (muscles of your upper leg around the knee). <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Here\u2019s more good news: Even if your range of motion is limited, you probably squat more throughout the day than you think. \u201cMost of us can squat to at least a 90-degree angle,\u201d says Dagher. \u201cWe do that every day, every time we climb into our car or get up from a chair.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

      Each of those moments is an opportunity to practice lowering yourself into a 90-degree squat with control. Think of them as <\/span>box squats<\/span><\/a> you do throughout the day; don\u2019t just plop onto the cushion, says Dagher. Doing this throughout the day can shore up your stability and make you a better squatter in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Why You Can’t Squat Deep<\/h2>\n

      Bodyweight squats are one thing, says Dagher, who says that, with the right adjustments, pretty much everyone can go into a deep squat. But, Somerset points out that weighted squats are a different story.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \u201cFor some people, their squats fall apart under a certain amount of loading,\u201d he says. <\/span><\/p>\n

      You see, even if you\u2019ve maxed out your mobility in your joints, when it comes to doing weighted squats, you may not be as comfortable\u2014or as powerful\u2014at the deeper end of the squat as you\u2019d like, says Dagher. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Why? It comes down to simple genetics. Some people are built with better squatting hips than others. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Quick anatomy lesson: The place where the femur (the big bone in your thigh) meets your hip, called the hip socket, looks something like a spoon going into a bowl. The top of the femur (called the femoral head) neatly fits into the pelvic socket (acetabulum) and is held in place by ligaments.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"hip<\/a>
      Image Source: Sport And Spinal Physiotherapy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Everyone\u2019s hip sockets are different. Some of them are deeper than others. The deeper your socket, the harder it will be for you to squat, since the femur bone will hit the pelvic bone. To go back to our \u201cspoon in bowl\u201d analogy, the stem of the spoon (your femur) runs into the rim of the bowl (your pelvis). <\/span><\/p>\n

      People of Scottish and French heritage typically have deeper hips, according to <\/span>world-renowned spine expert Stuart McGill<\/span><\/a>. Meanwhile, people from the Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria tend to have shallower sockets that allow them to painlessly sink into the deep part of the squat. <\/span><\/p>\n

      McGill says it\u2019s no coincidence that Eastern Europe is home to some of the best Olympic lifters in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

      A deep hip socket has different advantages. It\u2019s helpful for walking and standing and great at producing rotational power (the type of force you need to hit a baseball or swing a golf club). And having deeper hip sockets doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you can\u2019t squat deep. But, it does mean you\u2019ll have to work harder on the move\u2014and may feel pain when you perform it. <\/span><\/p>\n

      The Squat Form Test<\/h2>\n

      There\u2019s a simple way to gauge the depth of your hip sockets. Simply get onto your hands and knees in an all-fours position, engage your core, and slowly rock your hips back toward your heels. You can see Dr. McGill explain how to do the move <\/span>at the 2:50 mark of this video<\/span><\/a> (although the entire clip is worth a watch if you have the time).<\/span><\/p>\n